diff --git a/COPYING b/COPYING
index d60c31a97a5..d8ec6d261b1 100644
--- a/COPYING
+++ b/COPYING
@@ -279,6 +279,19 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
 
 		     END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS
 
+In addition, as a special exception, the QGIS Development Team gives
+permission to link the code of this program with the Qt library,
+including but not limited to the following versions (both free and
+commercial): Qt/Non-commerical Windows, Qt/Windows, Qt/X11, Qt/Mac, and
+Qt/Embedded (or with modified versions of Qt that use the same license
+as Qt), and distribute linked combinations including the two. You must
+obey the GNU General Public License in all respects for all of the code
+used other than Qt. If you modify this file, you may extend this
+exception to your version of the file, but you are not obligated to do
+so. If you do not wish to do so, delete this exception statement from
+your version.
+
+
 	    How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs
 
   If you develop a new program, and you want it to be of the greatest